Witches Leap Circuit

2 hrs

1.1 km Circuit

89 m

Hard track

A great circuit walk near Scenic World, Katoomba. This walk heads into a temperate rain forest, following a shrouded trail through Witches Leap, a small creek crossing, before emerging near Katoomba Kiosk. The kiosk is a good spot to stop for a coffee before heading back along the flat trail to Scenic World. Special features of this walk include the great views from Juliet’s Balcony.

Scenic World

Scenic World is one of the most renowned tourist attractions of Katoomba and the Blue Mountains. Located on the cliffs of the Jamison Valley , visitors can enjoy a ride on the Scenic Railway (the world’s steepest incline railway) or the Scenic Cableway, into the Jamison Valley, and explore the Scenic Walkway from the base. Alternatively, the Scenic Skyway offers a bird’s eye view over the valley, with a glass floor to enhance the experience. Scenic World also features a revolving restaurant, a cafe and a kiosk, in addition to the documentary theatre and souvenir shop. Rides can be purchased, starting from for adults and for children, and combination or family passes are available. More info.

Moderate track

From the Scenic World main entrance, this walk follows the ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’ signs down the concrete steps and around to the back of the building, where it comes to a wooden footbridge that curves around behind the main car park. At the end of the footbridge, this walk comes to an intersection with the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track down the gentle hill, winding down some wooden steps as the track bends around to the right. It then arrives at the signposted intersection of the ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’ and the track to the base of the Scenic Railway.

Hard track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the steep wooden steps, following the signs to the bottom of the Scenic Railway. The walk comes to the intersection of Vanimans Lookout at the bottom of the steps.

Vaniman’s Lookout

Vaniman’s Lookout is a fenced, long and narrow lookout on the cliff edge, opposite Reids Plateau. The view looks directly over the Three Sisters across the Kedumba Valley, under the Scenic Skyway. The lookout was considered one of the finest views on the Three Sisters in the 1900’s. The lookout was named after Chester Melvin Vaniman in 1905, a well-know adventurer and artist from the USA, who visited the Blue Mountains in 1903. More info.

Hard track

Turn right: From Vanimans Lookout, this walk follows the bush track heading away from the bottom of the wooden steps. The track winds around the side of the hill and down the steep metal stairs. At the bottom, the walk comes to the intersection of the Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Juliets Balcony track (unsignposted).

Moderate track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the short set of wooden steps, winding up to the raised rock platform, and along the bush track to the edge of the fenced-off rock shelf. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.

Juilets Balcony

Juliets Balcony is a spectacular lookout, perched on top of a rock buttress near Orphan Rock, under the Scenic Skyway. The lookout provides sweeping views of the start of the Kedumba Valley, from Katoomba Falls to the Three Sisters. The lookout is accessed by a staircase, off the Furber Steps track. The fenceline continues along the lookout, forming a long, fenced balcony.

Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the long set of wooden steps winding down the side of the hill. After this, the walk flattens out for a short distance then continues up a short set wooden steps to the intersection of the Round Walk and the Furber Steps track.Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Caravan Park’ sign along the hardened path and up the wooden steps, continuing to wind up the side of the hill as the track climbs up a few more sets of wooden steps. This walk Witches Leap Creek at the small wooden bridge, winding up the wooden steps that zigzag up through the gully, to the intersection of the Witches Leap Lookout.

Moderate track

Veer right: From the Witches Leap Lookout, this walk heads up the wooden steps and up the hardened path that winds up through the gulley, climbing past a small rest area at a large rock overhang. The walk heads to the top of the hill, coming to the intersection of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk and the Reids Plateau loop walk.

Moderate track

Turn left: With the Katoomba Falls track to the left and the picnic bench to the right, this walk heads north up the concrete stairs, passing a ‘Greenspace Project’ sign. The walk comes to the top of the stairs, to the signposted intersection of ‘Round Walk’ at the back of the small park near the Katoomba Kiosk.

Easy track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk crosses through the park, passing the large information signs and the water fountain, arriving at the Katoomba Kiosk. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.

Katoomba Falls Kiosk

The Katoomba Falls Kiosk serves a variety of light and healthy meals including breakfast, lunch and Devonshire teas. A drink enjoyed here will add to the experience of any local bushwalk. For more information, phone (02) 4782-4868. More info.

Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Scenic Railway’ sign along the hardened bush track, winding along the side of the hill as the track heads through the forest, to the signposted intersection of the Round Walk and the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the only unsignposted bush track up the gentle hill. It winds up the wooden steps, bending around to the left until it flattens out at the intersection with the Scenic World footbridge.

(0.98km) End of wooden footbridge → Scenic World

120 m

3 mins

20m

-5m

Very easy

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the wooden footbridge that winds around the back of the Scenic World multi-story car park, to the concrete footpath. The walk continues around the main building, climbing up some concrete steps to the main entrance of Scenic World.

Maps for the Witches Leap Circuit walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Cross sectional view of the Witches Leap Circuit bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Witches Leap Circuit

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

Length

1.1 km

Time

2 hrs

.

Grade 4/6

Hard track

AS 2156.1

Gradient

Very steep (4/6)

Quality of track

Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)

Signs

Directional signs along the way (3/6)

Experience Required

Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)

Weather

Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Infrastructure

Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

560m of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 240m is flat with no steps. Whilst another 200m has short steep hills and the remaining 110m is very steep.

Quality of track

610m of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path and another 450m follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (40m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.

Signs

Around 1000m of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 100m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 850m of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 250m requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 1.1km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 1km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 90m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Witches Leap Circuit walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Witches Leap Circuit walk starts and ends at the Scenic World (gps: -33.728585, 150.30096)
Your main transport option to Scenic World is by; Bus. (get details)Important Note: There is no car transport option to the start of this walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-bmnp-wlc
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.